Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1339

Cold sweat ran down Im So-byeong’s face.

“…I’ve been tricked.”

The mountains met here, creating paths to the left and right.

But both paths led to the same place.

A very high, steep cliff blocked the path between the mountains. It looked like a wall of despair.

Even if they were strong and rested, climbing it would be hard. Now, tired and weak, it was impossible.

They could try to climb, but everyone knew what would happen. The Maninbang were close behind and would easily defeat them before they could even defend themselves.

Climbing the mountain was just as bad. The steep hills, rough ground, and thick trees would make them too tired. They would be easily attacked.

They were trapped, like in a jar, surrounded by cliffs. Im So-byeong felt he had led them to their death.

“Why…?”

The Sipman Mountains were a maze of peaks, making it hard to understand the land. It wasn’t easy to know what was behind a mountain.

He knew this when traveling to Hainan Island, so Im So-byeong chose this route to escape.

But even Im So-byeong didn’t think there would be such a steep cliff behind the mountain.

“Ho Ga-myeong…”

He gritted his teeth.

He bit his lip until it bled.

He had thought he escaped the trap. He thought he had ruined their plans. He believed he was smarter than them.

Because that’s how it always was.

But now, he knew the truth. From the moment they entered the narrow valley, Ho Ga-myeong had been controlling them completely.

‘It wasn’t clumsy…’

He thought they were just a quick group that could only attack in large numbers. But that wasn’t all they could do; it was all they needed to do. They were guiding him, showing him a path only he could see.

Would a different path have changed things?

No. No matter which way they went, they would have ended up here.

They would have reached the Sipman Mountains, just at a different time.

Why wasn’t he suspicious? Why wasn’t he careful of Ho Ga-myeong, the Mind-Reader? Why did he think he was always smarter?

Ho Ga-myeong had done even more than Im So-byeong had done leading the Green Forest.

“Lord… Green Forest King…” Geum Yang-baek’s voice trembled slightly, reaching Im So-byeong. Im So-byeong’s eyes flickered. For the first time, he felt a sharp stab of fear when someone addressed him with his title. It was the fear of letting them down.

“What now?” Geum Yang-baek asked, his voice strained, almost cracking. “Are we… are we trapped?” His eyes, usually sharp and confident, were wide with fear, reflecting the growing panic among the Hainan disciples.

Im So-byeong gritted his teeth, his jaw tight. *What should they do?* He wanted to scream the question himself. *What could anyone possibly do in this hopeless situation?*

The path ahead was a sheer cliff, impossible to climb. And from behind, he could almost hear the pounding footsteps of the Maninbang, like the drums of death getting closer.

Their allies, exhausted and wounded from holding back the furious enemy, were at their breaking point. They had given everything they had.

“Green Forest King!” Geum Yang-baek’s voice rose again, desperate. But Im So-byeong remained silent, his throat dry.

A storm of thoughts crashed in his head, but every word he could think of felt like it would crush the last flicker of hope in his men.

And then, he saw it. No, he *felt* it. In the moment of his silence, something was draining away from the faces of the Hainan disciples staring at him. The fragile thing they had been clinging to, hope, was fading like smoke in the wind.

‘Ah, no…’

What had kept them going, pushed to their limits, was the hope of survival and the will to fight the enemy.

If they lost that hope and will, they would be nothing more than rats in a trap.

So, he had to stop them from losing all hope.

‘But how?’

Should he tell them to fight as hard as they could and take as many enemies as possible with them?

Or should he tell them that they were going to die anyway, but they should face death bravely and with honor?

None of Im So-byeong’s plans, none of his past experiences, could answer this question. He felt lost and helpless, facing their hopeless situation.

Then, a calm voice spoke.

“Surrounded on all sides…”

It was Baek Cheon, covered in blood, who had arrived last after holding back the enemy.

He looked around calmly. He carefully checked the tall cliffs and the land around them, then nodded slowly.

“This is going to be difficult.”

Im So-byeong suddenly felt weak.

Im So-byeong realized he had been depending on the Deputy Sect Leader without realizing it.

When Baek Cheon said ‘difficult,’ he felt like the last bit of hope he had been holding onto was breaking.

Baek Cheon turned and looked at the path they had taken.

“Then we have no choice. We must fight our way out and find another path.”

Im So-byeong could not believe what he was hearing.

What was he saying?

Baek Cheon said calmly.

“Green Forest King.”

“Yes?”

“Are there many places like this around here?”

It seemed like a strange question, but Im So-byeong understood what Baek Cheon meant, even in this difficult situation.

“I don’t think so. If there were many places like this, the Demonic Sect wouldn’t have been able to fight here…”

“Then it’s decided.”

Baek Cheon took a deep breath.

“We just need to fight through here and get back to the other path.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Is that right?”

Im So-byeong couldn’t answer.

Of course, that was right. Of course, that was the right thing to say.

But to get out of here and find another path, they had to fight through the angry main force of the Maninbang.

“Deputy Sect Leader Jang, that’s…”

“Is there another way?”

Baek Cheon’s calm question made Im So-byeong silent.

Another way? There couldn’t be one. If there was another way, Im So-byeong would have already used it.

Baek Cheon was right. The only way now was to reopen that path. Or else…

“Is all we have to do is open the path?”

Baek Cheon nodded without turning around at Yoon Jong’s question from behind.

“That seems to be the case.”

“Good, it’s not complicated. Then, Green Forest King.”

“Yes?”

“Please take care of this one.”

Yoon Jong handed Im So-byeong Chung Myung, who he had been carrying on his back.

“That…”

“Protect him with your life.”

Im So-byeong took Chung Myung, confused. Then, without another word, Yoon Jong stood next to Baek Cheon.

“Monk, please look after our senior brother.”

“Brother…”

“Quickly!”

Tang Soso also handed Jo Gul over to Hae Yeon and tried to go forward. Jo Gul desperately reached out and grabbed Tang Soso’s sleeve.

“I, I too…”

“Huh?”

“I too… I can still fight… Ack!”

Tang Soso’s large needle pierced Jo Gul’s hand, which was grabbing her sleeve. Tang Soso chuckled, seeing Jo Gul startled.

“The bleeding will stop a bit.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Take care of yourself. You’re going to die soon if you don’t. Seriously, you are a hopeless senior brother.”

Tang Soso quickly took the large needle back and stood next to Yoon Jong.

Everyone stared at the backs of the three.

“Green Forest King.”

“⋯⋯Yes?”

The shouts of enemies grew louder. They were closing in. “We will stop the approaching enemies. Hwasan disciples, we will make a path through the enemies. Namgung and Dang, help us.”

“…”

“I trust you.”

Im So-byeong’s eyes trembled slightly.

How could they be so calm, even in this situation?

They must know. This is like throwing an egg at a rock. No matter how hard they try, they can hardly avoid being completely destroyed.

Yet, they willingly stepped forward, unlike him, who was trapped in despair and didn’t know what to do.

Im So-byeong’s teeth pressed hard into his lip. *Logically,* he thought, *there’s only one way.* They should leave the Hainan disciples behind.

Let them slow down the enemies below, acting like shields. That would give the rest of them, climbing the cliff, a better chance to escape and survive.

*Don’t they know this?* Yes, they must know. Especially the Hwasan people. No one was better at climbing cliffs than them.

But they were acting as if this option didn’t even exist. They were going to protect Hainan to the very end.

Foolish and stupid.

But even Im So-byeong, who had lived his entire life as a member of the Demonic Sect pursuing profit, couldn’t bring himself to say those words. Nor could anyone else in his place.

“Sasuk (Senior Brother), it seems there are quite a few enemies?”

“You’re going to have a hard time.”

“⋯⋯Easy for you to say.”

“Hey, be nice to your Sasuk!”

Dang So-so’s smile was bright, but her knuckles were white as she gripped her sword, her hand shaking just a little. Im So-byeong saw that hand and knew.

They weren’t calm because they weren’t scared. They were desperately suppressing the urge to run away at any moment.

That fact made Im So-byeong even more unbearable. Even if others didn’t know, Im So-byeong knew that his arrogance had caused this entire situation.

If he had even a little doubt while overwhelming Ho Ga-myung, he wouldn’t have walked into this trap with his own feet.

Im So-byeong was about to say something when…

A calm voice flowed out. Instantly, everyone’s gaze turned towards him. Geum Yang-baek, his face pale from poisoning and injuries, was looking at Baek Cheon.

“Don’t make things harder for yourselves.”

“⋯⋯Sect Leader.”

“The goodwill you have shown for Hainan is already enough. To ask for more is simply too much.”

“Sect Leader, we still have⋯⋯.”

“Take the injured and climb the cliff. We of Hainan will hold the back.”

“Sect Leader!”

The disciples of Hainan were surprised and turned to Geum Yang-baek, but Geum Yang-baek simply answered calmly.

“Wasn’t that what we decided from the beginning?”

Geum Yang-baek’s gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was being carried on Im So-byeong’s back.

“The Hwasan Divine Dragon told us not to just sit and wait for death, but to go to a place where we can die with honor.”

“⋯⋯.”

“In my opinion, this seems to be that place.”

“Sect Leader, we can still⋯⋯.”

“Acting Sect Leader.”

Geum Yang-baek gave a gentle smile.

“Actually, I agreed and disagreed with those words. It was difficult to understand what was so honorable about jumping into enemy lines and dying.”

“⋯⋯.”

“But now it’s alright. It’s hard to find honor in the destruction faced while fighting the Ten Thousand People Clan, but⋯⋯.”

Geum Yang-baek looked at Chung Myung and said.

“Now I think I know what honor we must protect to the end. What we must protect to the end. What our role is.”

Baek Cheon’s shoulders began to tremble faintly.

The disciples of Hainan also couldn’t bring themselves to speak and looked at Geum Yang-baek.

“Until now, you have protected us. You have shed the blood we should have shed, and you have carried the burdens we should have carried. So at least⋯⋯ now, let us repay that debt.”

Geum Yang-baek looked at everyone and asked.

“Shouldn’t we?”

The light returned to the eyes of the Hainan disciples.

It’s not that they don’t understand this situation. They just needed a final strong decision.

And now, Geum Yang-baek’s words are giving them the courage for that final decision.

“Let’s be like Hainan at least in the end. Isn’t it too embarrassing for the seafarers of Hainan to die only receiving help from people from the land?”

“That’s right, Sect Leader!”

“We have to do it!”

“Actually, haven’t we gotten tired of running away!”

The disciples of Hainan raised their voices as if screaming.

They had only run away without even trying properly.

They couldn’t accept being protected by someone until the very end, running away, and then being stabbed in the back and dying. That fact would ruin even their end.

“Even if we go to the afterlife, we need to have something to say to the dead senior brothers.”

At those words, Geum Yang-baek laughed quietly.

“That’s right.”

They were talking more calmly and peacefully than ever before.

Baek Cheon’s face darkened as he watched this.

There is no desperate decision visible. There is no surging morale either. But that is why he could better know that their determination was firm.

To insist further here would be an insult to them. Baek Cheon could at least understand that much.

“Hwan-so, Ja-yang!”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Kwak Hwan-so and Lee Ja-yang, who had made a firm resolution in their eyes, jumped out at Geum Yang-baek’s words.

“You two, follow these people.”

“⋯⋯Yes?”

“Sect Leader! What are you saying!”

“If only you survive, Hainan will not be destroyed even if it is destroyed. You must survive and one day make the name of Hainan known to the world again.”

“Sect Leader!”

Kwak Hwan-so was about to strongly disagree with him, but at that moment, Geum Yang-baek grabbed his shoulder.

“I beg you.”

“⋯⋯.”

Kwak Hwan-so’s shoulders trembled.

“I beg you, Junior Brother. Don’t let our deaths be for nothing.”

“Survive.”

With the pouring voices and gazes, eventually, large teardrops began to pour from the eyes of the two.

They couldn’t refuse. It wasn’t a situation to delay by saying they wouldn’t go.

That’s why they couldn’t even say a short word of refusal. This fact made Kwak Hwan-so and Lee Ja-yang even more unbearable.

“Acting Sect Leader, I put them in your care.”

“⋯⋯Sect Leader.”

Geum Yang-baek smiled gently and stepped forward.

And as he passed by Baek Cheon, he whispered softly so that only he could hear.

“You must save the Hwasan Divine Dragon.”

It was when Baek Cheon couldn’t bring himself to reply and bit his lip.

“⋯⋯Cough.”

“Ch, Chung Myung-ah!”

“Hwasan Divine Dragon!”

Chung Myung, who was being carried on Im So-byeong’s back, coughed up blood and opened his eyes. His half-closed, blurry eyes scanned the surroundings.

“⋯⋯Where is⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung’s eyes gradually became clearer.

“We’ve been played.”

Im So-byeong lowered his head deeply. But the following words were different from what he expected.

“⋯⋯As expected.”

Im So-byeong was surprised and raised his head.

Even in the midst of all this, Chung Myung’s expression was ambiguous, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.